Manitou, Quintrex, Rotax Stealth to star at 2024 Sydney International Boat Show

The first boat will be the tri-hulled all-aluminium Manitou pontoon boat, a National Marine Manufacturers Association Innovation Award-winnning luxury dayboat that uses the low-profile Rotax S to maximise the real estate on its deck.

Also featuring the Stealth technology is the Good Design Awards-winning Quintrex Freestyler X. The Australian-designed and built Freestyler family-friendly alloy bowrider was officially launched in pre-production form in March last year but with the first customer deliveries heading out of the Queensland factory late last year. 

The Manitou is built in the US and imported to Australia via BRP, the same Canadian company that owns Telwater, the maker behind the iconic Quintrex boat brand.

According to Sam Heyes, Telwater’s general manager, BRP was “redefining the boating industry” with its Rotax engine.

“This is just the beginning of what’s to come, with Rotax S representing one step in both BRP and Telwater’s legacy of pushing boundaries in marine to continue raising on-water standards for every boater,” Hayes said.

“Adding to the hype of the event, for the duration of the Sydney International Boat Show we are running

an exclusive, limited-time offer across the Manitou Explore and Quintrex Freestyler X models – to find out more, visit the boat show or your local dealer.”

The compact Rotax S engine is an advance in outboard engine technology that makes it perform like a hybrid between a traditional outboard engine and a sterndrive. It allows boats to be designed with a flat floor over the transom, called the MaxDeck, creating an extra 1.2 metres of useable onboard space compared with what is possible with a conventional boat design.

However, the ability to tilt the Rotax S means it loses none of the handling, performance, versatility and ease of maintenance of a conventional outboard engine. It also is trailerable.

“Approximately 20 per cent of space is void on a traditional aluminium boat due to the transom and engine profile,” Hayes said. 

“With the new Rotax Stealth engine, our team sought to curb that expectation to make the entire real estate useable.”

The Rotax engine featuring Stealth Technology comes in 115hp and 150hp configurations. 

The Quintrex Freestyler X, available through nine dealers Australia-wide, features premium upholstery, overhauled ergonomics, updated dash fascia to fit 9.0-inch sounders as standard, optional Sea Tread flooring, self-hold storage hatches and more.

Prices for the Quintrex Freestyler X, which include the 115hp Quintrex Freestyler X 555 115S, 150hp Quintrex Freestyler X 555 150S and flagship Quintrex Freestyler X 595 150S, start from $85,999. 

Meanwhile, the Manitou Explorer pontoon boat has tapped into the same research and development resources as the Quintrex Freestyler X to share the same MaxDeck technology.

It will be available in three models, Bench, Switchback and Navigator, with each one featuring different seating layouts to suit varied uses.

Built for leisure boaters and socialites, the Manitou Explorer is designed to carry up to 11 people and features a flexible furniture design, including Switchback loungers with adjustable backrests to easily convert from rear- to forward-facing seats.

Prices for the Manitou Explorer start from $176,098.

The Manitou Pontoon and Quintrex Freestyler X will be on display on stand 401 at the 2024 Sydney International Boat Show.